Canon's premium PowerShot G16 and S120 get minor updates

Canon's latest premium consumer cameras take on the smartphone by joining with it rather than continuing to fight, building in an easier Wi-Fi connection setup process as well as social media compatibility as their most outstanding new features. Though Wi-Fi is not new to the S series, Canon says the PowerShot S120 is easier to connect to cell phones and computers. Wi-Fi is new to the G16, though, which could be a welcome addition as smartphone users come around to wanting a little more from their pictures. Neither camera supports NFC (near-field communication), however, which would allow easy touch-to-connect functionality. Both iOS and Android are supported by Canon's CameraWindow app.

PowerShot G16

Canon's latest flagship enthusiast digital camera is mostly unchanged both outside and in, with the exception of its DIGIC 6 processor and Wi-Fi. Its fast F1.8 - 2.8 lens ranges from 28-140mm equivalents, allowing the retention of fast shutter speeds in low light, and its DIGIC 6 processor joins with the 12.1MP CMOS sensor, a combination Canon says will allow for better image quality in low light. Canon also says autofocus and shutter lag should be up to 50% faster with the G16.

Design-wise, the Canon G16 has a few new accents, with a more subtle curve to the grip and a harder edge around the top deck; otherwise, the look and feel is essentially the same. The G16 retains the front control dial, which is welcome for those shooting in Manual or semi-auto modes, as well as the increasingly rare optical viewfinder. Note that the lens ring on the G16 does not turn like the ring on the S120, but comes off to make room for accessory lenses.

The customizable shortcut button (marked with an S) moves from the left of the optical viewfinder to just under the movie record button on the right thumbgrip. A few buttons also change position on the back control cluster, with the metering mode button disappearing altogether. An EV compensation thumbdial juts out from the top deck of the camera just right of the optical viewfinder. The rear dial surrounding the control cluster complements the front dial, the pair allowing SLR-like control of aperture and shutter speed.

Other upgrades include a faster frame rate, which starts at 12.2 fps for the first six frames before dropping to 9.3 fps for up to 522 shots (when using a UHS-1 memory card, according to Canon). Full HD video is now available up to 1080 60p (up from 30p), with stereo audio mics and HDMI built in as before. Star Nightscape and Star Trails modes now allow capture of a field of stars in a landscape night scene, or star trails, using a longer exposure.

The Canon G16 is expected to ship in October 2013 for $550.

PowerShot S120

The main change to the PowerShot S120 is the slight increase to the maximum aperture, which now ranges from F1.8-5.7 instead of F2.0-5.9. This change addresses the fact that most other cameras in this category start at F1.8. Faster autofocus is listed as another feature worth noting, Canon claiming up to 50% improvement in shutter lag and AF speed.

The S120 still has the ring around the lens for a more mechanical feel when making adjustments. Rather than using an electronic motor as past S-series cameras did, the pop-up flash is now deployed via a sliding switch on the left side of the camera. A small Wi-Fi symbol sits below that, denoting its built-in Wi-Fi support.

Controls on the rear of the S120 are unchanged, and the LCD remains a capacitive touchscreen. The Canon S120 is also slightly larger than its predecessor, measuring 100 x 59 x 29mm rather than 99 x 59 x 27mm. Its frame rate has also improved to 12.1 fps for the first six frames and 9.4 fps for the remaining 635 shots with a UHS-1 SDHC/SDXC card. The Canon S120 now supports 1080 60p Full HD as well, with stereo mics and HDMI out.

New Advanced Point-and-Shoot Lineup Includes the PowerShot G16, S120 and SX510 HS with Built-In Wi-Fi® and the New PowerShot SX170 IS Offers a Long Zoom in a Compact Camera Body

MELVILLE, N.Y., August 22, 2013 - Adding to its trademark line of esteemed digital cameras, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the release of four new feature-packed PowerShot digital cameras: the PowerShot G16, PowerShot S120, PowerShot SX510 HS and PowerShot SX170 IS. Designed to help photo enthusiasts create high-quality images and videos, these cameras feature advanced DIGIC imaging technology to deliver superb image quality in portable, compact digital camera bodies. In addition, all four models have the ability to achieve faster autofocusing speeds than was possible with previous PowerShot models. The PowerShot G16 and S120 also feature the new Star mode to help users capture the brilliance of a starry night sky, while the new Background Defocus mode allows users to soften the background of their images for a portraiture look.

For the connected photographer, the PowerShot G16, S120 and SX510 HS digital cameras come with built-in Wi-Fi® technology that allows for outstanding quality images and video files to be wirelessly transferred from the camera to social networking sites through CANON iMAGE GATEWAY#, to a PC, or users can upload images to virtually anywhere on their compatible iOS® or Android™ device* with the download of the free Canon CameraWindow app**. The Wi-Fi® setup process has been improved by Canon, making it easier than ever for users to initially setup these cameras. Software no longer needs to be installed onto a user’s computer, so all initial setup can be accomplished from the user’s smart device or computer, allowing for easy photo sharing on-the-go. Images can also be printed wirelessly using Wireless PictBridgei on select printers, including the Canon PIXMA MG7120 or PIXMA MG5520 Wireless Photo All-In-One printers, so special moments can be preserved and cherished for years to come.

“At Canon we are continually inspired to introduce the latest technological advancements to the PowerShot line of digital cameras,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “Although smartphone camera popularity is continually increasing, the PowerShot line of cameras offers features such as advanced image sensors, high-quality optics, low-light capabilities and extremely fast autofocusing speeds that, when combined, are unrivaled by smartphone technology.”

PowerShot G16 Digital Camera

The PowerShot G16 digital camera builds upon the success of the PowerShot G15 by utilizing some of Canon’s most innovative technologies. The first PowerShot in the G-series to come equipped with built-in Wi-Fi® technology, the G16 has the ability to share images and video to social networking sites such as Facebook®, Twitter®, YouTube®, and Flickr® or via email through the use of CANON iMAGE GATEWAY. Users can also upload images from almost anywhere via their compatible iOS® or Android™ device with the download of the free Canon CameraWindow app.

The PowerShot G16 features a 28-140mm wide-angle lens with an aperture range of f/1.8 – f/2.8, which helps while shooting in low-light conditions or for users who want to create a dramatic shallow depth-of-field with soft backgrounds. The G16 is equipped with Canon’s HS System, which combines a DIGIC 6 image processor and a 12.1-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS image sensor, allowing for enhanced low-light image quality.

With improved AF times and reduced shooting lag over previous G-series models, the advancements to Canon’s AF system help ensure users never miss a shot. Continuous shooting speeds of up to 9.3 frames-per-second are possible with the PowerShot G16, allowing users to capture images in full resolution as they happen***. The G16 also captures 1080p/60p Full HD video, and includes a built-in stereo microphone and an HDMI output so users have the ability to view videos on their HDTV.

The PowerShot G16 also features new shooting modes to capture breathtaking images day or night. The new Star mode gives users the ability to capture the brilliance and wonder of the night sky through the use of three scene modes. “Star Nightscape” lets users shoot the radiance of stars in a landscape image, while the “Star Trails” mode captures trails of stars to turn them into a luminous still image. “Star Time Lapse Movie” captures continuous still images of the stars and then combines each to create a stunning video replicating the motion of the stars in the night sky.

In addition, the camera’s creative handheld HDR Scene mode automatically combines multiple shots of a scene to help create an image with a greater dynamic range without the necessity for a tripod. HDR Scene mode includes Natural, Art Bold, Art Embossed, Art Standard and Art Vivid options.

For photographers who want the convenience and ease-of-use of a compact camera with the feel of a DSLR, the PowerShot G16 features dials and controls similar to those on Canon’s EOS Digital SLR cameras. It is also compatible with Canon Speedlite flashes and select accessories.

The PowerShot G16 is scheduled to be available in October 2013 for an estimated retail price of $549.99.

PowerShot S120 Digital Camera

Succeeding the PowerShot S110, the pocket-sized PowerShot S120 digital camera continues the tradition of built-in Wi-Fi® technology that allows for images and video to be shared to social networking sites or via email through the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY. Users can also download the free Canon CameraWindow app to their compatible iOS® or Android™ device and upload images from virtually anywhere.

The PowerShot S120 features a sharp 24-120mm extra-wide angle lens with an aperture range of f/1.8-f/5.7. It is equipped with Canon’s HS System, which combines a DIGIC 6 image processor and a 12.1-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS image sensor allowing for enhanced low-light image quality. The advancements to Canon’s AF system allow users to achieve significantly faster autofocusing speeds. The S120 allows for continuous capture of up to 12.1 frames per secondii at 12.1-megapixels. The camera also records 1080p/60p Full HD video and includes a built-in stereo microphone and convenient playback via HDMI output.

Multiple creative shot modes such as the new Star mode, Background Defocus mode, and handheld HDR Scene mode give users the ability to create images they will be proud to share. Smart AUTO technology selects 58 different pre-defined scenes without the need to switch modes, making it possible to take beautiful images in a variety of situations.

The PowerShot S120 is scheduled be available in October 2013 for an estimated retail price of $449.99.

For more information about the PowerShot G16, S120, SX510 HS, and SX170 IS digital camera models please visit: www.usa.canon.com/powershot.

#One-time registration is required on CANON iMAGE GATEWAY online photo album. *Compatible with iOS version 6.0/6.1 or later and Android devices version 2.3/4.0/4.1/4.2 or later. Data charges may apply.**This software enables you to upload images to social networking sites. Before uploading images, please be aware that image files may contain privacy related information such as people and places. If necessary, please delete such information. Canon does not obtain, collect or use such images or any information included in such images. ***The first six shots are shot at a rate of up to 12.2 fps. From the sixth shot onward, it becomes approximately 9.3 fps. The PowerShot G16 can continuously shoot up to 522 shots at approximately 9.3 fps when using an SDHC/SDXC UHS-I memory card based on Canon’s standard test method. i PictBridge (Wireless LAN) certified printer is required.ii The first six shots are at a rate of up to 12.1 fps. From the sixth shot onward, it becomes approximately 9.4 fps. The PowerShot S120 can continuously shoot up to 635 shots at approximately 9.4 fps when using SDHC/SDXC UHS-I memory card based on Canon’s standard test method.

Bump to front page ... posted already a week ago and buried deep on page 2 with no response or action!... I find that a bit funny considering that DPREVIEW announced lately a new Europe only Ricoh HZ-15 with a separate entry ...

... something is missing from your news about Canon press release

notably POWERSHOT S200 - little brother to PS120 ... but with 10 megapixel CCD instead and older Digic 5 processor. It drops also RAW but retains most other stuff ... more

I gave up after Canon G11 after they dropped remote tethering, so I had to buy two second-hand G10's to do that, and may still buy two seconhand G9's (as also have RAW).

btw. Going back to basics - Have canon overcome the shutter casing damage problem on all later models ? (i.e.,the external protective shutter being too close to the lens that it scratches the lens when it opens/closes!).

I hope so - I loved my old G11, which I used for work, until progressive damage rendered it unusable, except with lens flare effects so severe even JJ Abrams would have balked at. When I contacted them I got short shrift so jumped ship. Shame, as that G11 was a gem.

Canon you giveth me the flip T&S screen in G16 and I taketh it away from the shop, OK? Otherwise I do not considereth it. BTW, wouldn't it make sense to produce 2 versions at the same time: with flipout screen and separately without it? The names could be G16FOAMIAYPS (flip out and move it as you please screen) and G16NMPS (no movable parts screen). Or better still just repair the G1X by adding to it better macro, slightly longer zoom, brighter lens, faster autofocus and longer battery life and I wanteth no more.

Actually, it's smart business. Canon will sell plenty of these cameras, with very minimal investment. That makes sense when you consider just how small the market is these days for cameras such as these.

As for the EOS M, yes, it's "a joke", but that is hardly Canon's final and only release for the mirrorless market. On the contrary, it's merely Canon's first release, something to get their toe in the door. Now Canon has their new Dual Pixel CMOS. Expect future models to be more compelling. But what's the hurry? The mirrorless market isn't exactly taking over the world just yet.

this camera is so 2010. Which enthusiast still needs a tiny-sensor enthusiast-compact camera???The only reason why the manufacturers don't build mft-sensor-compacts is to sell more lenses for the evils.The G16 just makes no sense for me.

Canon probably knows what the market is for this camera is more than you know. It may not make sense for you, but it obviously must make enough sense for Canon. Ultimately, it's their business, isn't it?

For what it's worth...it appears that the G16 has a new sensor over the G15. Both sensors have 12.1MP effective megapixels but the G15's has a total of 13.3MP and the G16 has a slightly lower 12.8 total MP count. This might mean that the G16 has slightly better ISO performance and overall image quality but probably not enough of a difference for the average person to notice.

I find my g15 to be a serious camera beyond the p&s category but a serious limitation for me is poor OFV. With my vision, using a LCD is not as pleasant. I wish canon would have made a significant upgrade by adding a good EVF OR optical with info. The other improvements are not very important to me to consider upgrading.

No flip out screen, no Canon G16 for me. So disapointed. I dont get why they dropped it again (G15). Make up your mind Canon. Why not making one camera that always has flip out screen.? Why drop it and then put it back and then drop it again, and ... what?

RedFox88 That is no real reason.Canon has a lot of other small and light cameras already, and the S series with almost same bells and whistles. Nobody (i think) buys G series because they want a small or light camera. I had G12 and what i missed in it was a bigger grib, i dont care about the lightness or smallness.

Do you think they will update it, Nice if they did i like it, but its a one off sensor and a bit to close to the 100D size wise.For a high performance compact i'm not sure they have the balance quite right, my feeling they have gone up the wrong evolutionary path like the Powerershot pro-1

I personally think they will update it. With on-sensor PDAF of some sort, preferably Dual-pixel technology over the whole sesnor, the G2 X could really be a huge seller. People with DSLRs would want one as a backup or everywhere camera, instead of buying cheaper P&Ss people might be motivated to shell out some more money, and it would be the only change required to sell the G2 X at $800 like its predecessor....they'd probably get a bunch of G1 X owners to upgrade, too.

Isn't it funny how those so called "cosmetic improvements" keeps Canon's G series consistently selling millions more units year after year than any of its competitors. Whats it been now, over 10 years in a row? :)

I didn't say that the Gs aren't great cameras but what Canon added to the G16 over the G15 is more for Gamers and Videomakers - not for enthusiast photographers. Who uses filters on a G more often than a aperture controlring when taking photographs daily?Yes you can use the Teleadapter but who seriously expects decent IQ from it?28mm isn't simply wide enough for spectacular landscapes.

What an ugly awful "update". My G15 is actually a decent camera at ISO 80, and has great ergonomics, but they could have made the finder 100%, added a tiltable LCD, and added a working assignable control ring. That would have been a G16 worth getting.

Too little, too late. I've been waiting for what seems like forever for Canon to get with the 1080p60 video programme, but I just bought a Sony RX100M2 because it's the first compact to have both that and a flip LCD.

60 fps will make video look too much like TV vs. movies. Plus 60 fps will end up with larger files sizes compared with 24 or 30 fps. I'm happy with my G15 although I'd like 50% faster focusing and shutter lag. Must be another implementation of the 70D image sensor technology.

I think the g16 is actually pretty good looking. As far as canon & Nikons go anyway. Too bad it has such a small sensor. Canon, more than anybody, has the capability to put out some truly amazing cameras & lenses. Yet they just keep putting out dumbed down products lacking anything interesting or exciting. All potatoes, no meat.

I'm just grateful there's companies like Fuji out there who actually listen to their customers, and strive to put out the best products possible- rather than just doing the bare minimum & relying on their namesake to sell cameras.

LOL I needed a good laugh. Canon bust their butt and people whine. 70D, G1 X, 6D, G and S lines.....the only thing missing is constant BS Fuji tech that ends up doing nothing. Fuji is great at coming up with sensor tech that is useless.

My friend bought RX100 just because she like Sony and the sale man said it was good IQ. The problem is she can't take good picture, even with the "good" camera. Only managed to capture group photos. Most low light shot were burr. So good IQ camera may not get good picture, don't ever mention capture the moment. I keep on look out for the DPR's galleries for RX100 picture, but hardly find one. Can someone compare RX100 to MF camera. We all like good IQ, but I willing to tradeoff some IQ for other more helpful features in order to get the right shot if the same price was paid. Photos capture by iPhone can captured priceless photo as well.

The thing is P&S sales are dying quickly. I'm surprised Canon decided to update the G15 this year since they had waited 2 years on the G12 so they could have easily gone 18 or 24 months before a G16 instead of just 12.

I see so many people complained about the new G16, I can't understand why? there are many buyers are not like you or me, maybe 1/1.7 size of sensor is good enough for them, some buyers are P&S shooter for their whole life, they don't even know what we talk about here.., I"m not a G buyer, not G15 or G16, I think it's expensive ugly low-end product, and selling at sky high price, there are too many much better choice out there, but look at the G15 user's reviews everywhere, it's almost like 5 stars perfect camera and Canon sold bunch of it.

NO matter you like or not, Canon is right with the market on this one.

- The same useless viewfinder- No articulated screen- The same tiny sensor for an advance compact in 2013 ( Fuji X20, Sony RX100)- Given this size, no GPS- No panorama mode- The price of an entry DSLR- Wireless flash capability ?

I hope Fuji and Sony will shake this company 1/ that is too comfortably settled and is resting on its laurels 2/ NEVER listen to their customers

12% larger sensor diagonal is 40% larger surface area. 42mm2 vs 58mm2. The difference is about the same between premium compacts and 42mm2 and basic compacts 28mm2 . The difference is not significant between a 2/3" and 1/1.7"

I'm pretty sure it isn't. I don't think there's parallax correction, either. I never used the OVF with my G11. I might've, had there been some shooting info displayed in it, such as the AF point location.

Canon=huge dinosaurThese stuff are uncool.There is little value in adding social media capability even to the avid social media user because why bother if it is still best done on a smartphone especially those with data plans?

The Canon S120 starts at 24mm and ends at a slow 120mm F5.7, versus a faster and longer 140mm F2.8 for the G16. More than 2 stops better ! It means you can use ISO 800 on the G16 when you are at ISO 3200 on the S120, for example. A huge advantage with small sensors ! More interesting to me than a 24mm lens.You cannot have both : wide angle and fast tele. Unless you go to a smaller sensor...Some also complain about Canon not releasing a camera with a RX100-like sensor. But the bigger sensor of the RX100 leads to a shorter zoom and a slower tele end (100mm F4.9) than the G16.Always the same constraints and trade-offs that many users seem to ignore or do not want to understand...Sometimes you have to buy more than one P&S to cover your photographic needs. As you may have to buy more than one lens when you own a (D)SLR or MILC...Do not expect the universal camera to come soon...

With anything goes these days; articulating screens, larger sensors, and better EVF, etc. All those features that give one pause to reconsider dumping their DSLR, (trust me, I'd like to dump mine when I eventually retire). Is it time to consider that the differences between a modern PS and DSLR are mute, and we should start asking for more?

My main concern with the habit of pro use, even though I'm shooting non-pro shots, is what capability and IQ can I get when I switch it to "M"? Whether I'm shooting a DSLR or a PS, the time, motions and efforts of composing and taking good shots are the same. So, at the end of the day, when I'm loading up the images into the LR, will I happy with the end results for those same efforts?

Mine is not an isolated issue for pros. I've met many novices in various amusement parks and on family outings whom relented and bought a DLSR, and their reason is pretty much the same: They want quality results for their efforts.

In daylight shots, there's really no real separation between high quality p&s and DSLR. The only difference is if you like nice buttery bokeh you have to use a DSLR with appropriate lens. Indoors, a different story.

I agree to certain extent. I have 40" prints from an old Pany LX3. You can accomplish a lot with 10MP and very sharp lens when handled correctly.

I've met many a novice at amusement parks, weddings and sporting events, whom upgraded to a digital rebel or other entry level DSLR and remarked on how happy they were to never having to "wait" for the camera anymore. These folks are what point and shoots are targeting, and yet they don't have to be pro or experienced to realize that they want DSLR performance. They spend all day shooting, and want results for their efforts.

I am quite disappointed to see that the S120 still does not offer a Panorama mode. Panasonic, Sony and Nikon and many others offer Panorama mode, but for whatever reason, Canon still does not. Canon will have you do a cumbersome and time consuming software stitch to create a Panorama, instead of an automated camera built-in hardware Panorama stitch. This is a deal breaker for me.

Stitching is actually ridiculously simple on a PC if you use something like MS ICE, like, two click simple... But I agree, the average consumer isn't gonna bother and it's silly ether they haven't incorporated a much easier to use sweep mode like just about everyone else, I loved having it on my Sony travel zoom I'm enjoying it just as much on my Panasonic LF1 (>>> S120).

Most people who use their phone as their primary camera are those who wouldn't spend money on a camera in the first place. The advent of Facebook/Instagram/other-crap-services-that-steal-your-data-and-make-you-feel-important coinciding with the rise of the smartphone is the only reason people preach about how revolutionary a (pretty lousy) camera on a phone is. People are lazy, this is true. The want to carry a phone. They want to carry a phone with internet. What? It has a camera on it? I can post online or create "art" with an app I paid a dollar for? People will "like" it? Then I think I'll take some pictures!

@howardroark Smartphones aren't threatening compact cameras' image quality, they're threatening their sales. The best camera is the one you have with you, and for most people that camera is their phone.

Don't forget that the top 3 most used cameras on Flickr are the iPhone 5, 4S and 4!

Andy, let's look at that statement. Flickr is an online photo sharing site. Smartphones like the iPhone have direct connection to the internet at all times (with very few exceptions). With the increase in smartphone sales it is unsurprising that a majority of photos going to any photo sharing website would be coming from devices with a direct line from the camera to the web. This is an increase in overall volume with smartphones leading the charge, but that does not imply a decrease in the volume of images being taken with standalone digital cameras. DSLR sales are growing. The market for p&s cameras may already be saturated but they still seem to sell like hotcakes. And as for the camera you have with you, I do take a lot of images I normally would not have taken because I have my phone right there. The cat in my lap when I can't move but my phone is already in my hand, for example. Plenty of others use it as their primary and never owned any other sort of camera before that.

Nokia 1020 has 1/1.5" sensor, bigger than this thing, and others will follow (Sony is about to release a phone with 1/2.3" sensor, for example). Also, not only size, but tech also matters. If you have 180nm 1/1.7" CMOS sensor vs 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS, say, at 32nm LP tech (about 4-5 yeas old), guess which one will win. And Canon's G1X, APS-C and FF sensors use even older 500nm tech.

@howardroark Flickr isn't facebook or instagram tho, it's a relatively "serious" photo site is tailored towards photography enthusiasts. If anything you'd expect camera phones to catch on less there as you'd think users would be more likely to insist on higher-end gear.

" The market for p&s cameras may already be saturated but they still seem to sell like hotcakes."

What do you base this on other than wishful thinking? Not only are compact cameras not selling like hotcakes, they're not even selling like boring and reliable products - their sales are going down not up. Here's the first article that came up in a search -

Flickr still has an app for our smartphones and it used to be more serious than it is today...thanks Yahoo. I find the transition of popular cameras going from three smartphones to the 5DIII and 7D very telling. Some people do a lot of phone shots, some people are serious, and who know how many of those pictures are posted by the same people who own a serious camera. I'm going with two groups: serious and not so serious as you might hope for a serious site.

"Most people who use their phone as their primary camera are those who wouldn't spend money on a camera in the first place."

I've known girls who have bought a seperate camera because they couldn't get decent pics with their phone inside. When they find that their new camera isn't actually any better, they often return it and get their money back.

Before the Nokia 1020 at least, no camera phones could take decent pics of people in indoor lighting. People were still looking for cameras to fill that need.

Exactly...they didn't spend any money on a camera. Not only that, they bought a camera without knowing anything about it and now somebody has to buy a camera that is used or the store has to sell it at a discount to offload it.People have wildly unrealistic ideas about what cameras can do and how much you have to pay to get a certain level of quality. The camera on a phone today is much better than it used to be, but it's still noisy, has serious issues focusing, has no real zoom, etc. etc. So basically people who don't have a clue use a phone camera and are impressed enough not to care and don't see the advantages of a decent camera because it's not worth it to them to pay much more. People with very low standards are very easy to please, and if they don't really want to take their camera out of Green Box mode (don't tell them it means "automatic because you don't care and/or are lazy" mode) then I can see how a phone camera would make them expect a TON from a real one.

howardroark, lol, you're going around and around rambling on and contradicting yourself trying to cover up that what I said obviously contradicts what you said in the part I quoted. People are willing to spend more money on a camera if it provides improvements to their photos. The technology exists for cameras to do that. Camera companies simply don't do it, then act like they don't know why their market is plummeting.

They're like AOL, wanting to keep selling dial-up services because they used to be able to make an unbelievable amount of profit off of it, and act dumbfounded that people aren't willing to pay for dial-up service any more.

Or the phone company that wants to try to charge you $30/month for a landline, when you can get basically the same thing from Skype for $5/month.

Or Blackberry or Palm, continuing crappy releases and halfassed phones while the iPhone comes out and provides people with what they actually want.

I'm afraid I don't see the contradiction. Some girl you know bought a camera and returned it because she thought "if my phone is this good, then a $200 point and shoot must be stellar" and then returned it because it wasn't true. Net expenditure: zero. The camera isn't free as some might assume in the back of their mind without every really thinking about it. And if someone doesn't value or need a zoom lens or manual settings then the difference in image quality between an 8MP 1/3.2" sensor and a 1/2.3" or 1" or 1.5" sensor might not really be all that impressive to them. That's fine. If they don't need the improvements and won't use them then having a separate device is pointless.For reference, Skype uses an IP to communicate and the phone company uses a powered line, so when you lose power in your house and the cell tower down the street, that $30 a month might not look like a horrible investment. Tell me more about people willing to pay money for a camera and then return it.

A male friend of mine who loved his iPhone and later his Galaxy SIII cameras also bought a p&s. I told him not to and that he would be disappointed....because he was buying a $150 Canon PoS. So yeah, he returned it. Then suddenly one day he decided it might be a good idea to get a camera that could take great shots of his soon-to-be newborn infant son. In his opinion the phone just couldn't cut it any more. I gave him some advice, showed him what a DSLR could do, and suddenly all of his eye rolling about using a good camera instead of the crappy phone camera stopped. Wow, you can zoom. Wow, you can focus in low light. Wow, images in low light aren't noisy trash only worth posting on Facebook for the other girls in the group shot with everybody making duck lips. Why is this are out of focus? DoF? Neat!I'm just saying everyone has their priorities and an improvement to one person is meaningless to another. And sometimes those opinions change as necessity dictates....or not.

...Just goes to show; even non-photographers (Barbie/accessory cam buyers) can see the resultant image quality, or lack thereof. Everyone can see!

You see, there's good enough crappy, and there's good enough excellent. Big difference. Sure, not under rare, ideal conditions, and with great luck; but what about otherwise? What about repeatability, and not needing to edit?

These are fine, but I stlll hold out faint hope for a faster G1X. For its size, the image quality is just outstanding, but I understand why people will choose smaller sensors in exchange for faster operation (and lower price, of course).

I think there will be a G2 X within the next year or two and it will kill. Put Dual-Pixel AF in a G2 X and you'll steal the thunder of every camera with a smaller sensor not to mention some with larger ones.

Hopefully a G2X will have real macro capability. The G1X has problems in that area. I liked the IQ in normal shooting situations but I traded mine in on a G15 primarily because of the poor macro performance--also the G1X was a little bulky for a travel camera.

I seriously doubt it will have significantly better macro capability. The large sensor makes getting a reasonably sized lens on the body hard enough already. The close-up filter is great and I use mine all the time.

Canon did just enough with the Android/iOS implementation. They will continue selling tons of these cameras with their saturation in the retail marketplace. It's disappointing that they did not upgrade the sensors but that's how it goes when it comes to making more out of the average consumer. I'm considering a RX100 (MK1) now. God bless Sony for trying.

Funny how improvement is praised above consistent excellence. The RX100 looks like a revolution compared to Sony's extensive catalog of garbage. And the G1 X was denounced by Sony fans for not being a dramatic change in technology despite being a dramatic departure for camera design. When Sony allows their fans to have scraps from the table in the form of a 1" sensor they lap it up like they've been given water after forty years in the desert.

Yes, thank goodness we do have choices. My first camera was a Sony because it was the best image quality I could get in something smaller than a human head for a reasonable price. After using it and later the Canon 10D and A620 I did choose a Sony W something or other for the office camera and was reminded of what I dislike about Sony. No doubt the RX100 is a very good camera. I usually only carry one camera at a time and I knew when I saw the G1 X I would never hesitate to bring it along. Some cameras are large and not worth the trouble in some circumstances, and I've defintely owned cameras and lenses that I wouldn't take with me because I knew they weren't worth the compromise in image quality. To each his or her own, as the case may be.

Wow the 90000 lb Gorilla in the room is the fact that Canon is petrified by the idea of an EVF. Their M series camera missed it, these G9-16 continue to miss it. Obviously Canon "does not want to go there" but they have the tech and they MUST!

No, they simply refuse to force people to pay for trash they won't use. That's not to say someone who wants it shouldn't, but they know that MOST people do not find it valuable enough to pay for. If they increase the price to pay for it they know they'll lose more sales then they gain by making the camera cheaper. This isn't dynamic corporate strategy here....it's doing a plot on Excel and being able to see.

It also doesn't take many dollars to totally screw up a product's marketing strategy. If they lose enough sales with a higher profit margin, they will still lose money on the deal. Engineers aren't the ones in charge, it's the marketing and money people.

It's difficult to get excited about lackluster updates to small-sensored cameras. The thing which seems odd to me is that they added a "nightsky" mode to the G16 but did not give it an articulated screen. Ever try pointing a camera on a tripod into the sky without an articulating screen? It's rather difficult to point and focus a camera upwards when it is attached to a tripod. You would need to contort yourself into a weird and uncomfortable position. My G1 X works beautifully for nightsky because it has an articulated screen and a large sensor with terrific IQ. But the G16 will fail in this role. So it begs the question of why they included such a mode with this camera?

Well, Canon is trying very hard to convince people to buy this "updated" version. Shooting night skies is one.

Seriously, if one want to shoot a night sky he will have to use a DSLR preferably one with a full frame with a manual focus lens with an infinity stop. The Zeiss 35mm f2.0 excel in this type of photography. Try it to find out.

Does anybody believe that the G16 can provide a decent photo at ISO 12,800? That is really stretching it.

For a small sensor camera, I wouldn't shoot anything in low light more than ISO400 whatever they say.

I reluctantly bought my daughter a G15 a few months ago. I too was concerned about the small sensor. After having used it a bit myself, I have to say I was quite impressed by the IQ in low light--the lens an processing probably deserve credit. There results were WAY WAY better than my older Nikon P7100. I was also concerned that they ditched the flip screen and that HD video was limited to 24fps. But at least they kept the optical viewfinder, unlike Nikon. The lack of a flip screen slims it down so I can see why they did it, though I still miss it. Overall, I now think the G15 is a great camera. The G16 improves the video to 60p, and adds wifi, which brings it up to par with the competition. Yes it still has a small sensor, but don't knock it til you tried it. I was really surprised at how well the G15 performed.

If you are pointing at stars... I used to sit in a chair and look through my telescope when I was younger. I think a chair and tripod could be arranged well enough for framing things you can photograph with this camera; it isn't like you have the magnification to isolate a crater on the moon.... Worth a try, maybe?

Canon doesn't want excitement, it wants money. They aren't here to excite YOU, they are here to pursuade people in the market to buy their cameras. Not many people get excited about cameras. They buy them because they feel they should. "I'm having a baby so I guess I finally need a camera.....what's the cheapest one I can buy?"

Sony came out with the rx100 which put a much larger sensor in a slightly larger body.

Nikon came out with a phone camera that puts a slightly larger sensor (than the s100/s120) is a much smaller body.

Canon...once again makes petty updates to it's cameras. Oh - and they actually **raise** the retail price for their camera as well. The s120 is now $450? The s95 was $400. They haven't made improvements of any real significance since then.

When is Sony going to put a large sensor in a compact body? No, not 1". I mean one on the scale of the G1 X. They have the 1" RX100 and the FF RX1. Where's the camera for me? Sony is dumb. The G1 X has turned out to be truly one of a kind. If there had been something similar after from anyone else I might have been given pause to question my decision. As it stands I waited about four or five years for a camera like the G1 X and since its release nobody else has had the brains or balls to do anything remotely similar.People who think phone cameras are the end all and be all of photographic tools deserve to be exploited the way Facebook does on a daily basis since that's where most of their goofy "selfies" or Instagram crap goes.Once again Canon does something that every camera company does every day. One camera here or there doesn't nullify the majority of the line that is boring and slow to change. RX100 doesn't erase Sony's other abysmal cameras.

I really liked the look and the idea of the G1 X and thought about getting it. The AF was slow, so I heard from the reviews, and it wasn't a great low light camera. I prefer about 1.8 so I bought the Oly XZ-1. It's a great camera but I'd sure love to have the sensor size your G1X has. Do you know if they are going to put out a second model of it?

Considering Canon's history the lifespan of even oddballs like the G1 X is usually at least three or four generations, although sporadically released. Remember, for a while people thought the G line had been discontinued because of the huge gap between releases. My G1 X is as good in low light as my 7D as far as image quality. AF isn't nearly as bad as some reviewers state, but it's not stellar either. AF works fine in low light but certainly faster in bright light as one would expect. I personally think the G2 X will be out within a year and probably with the Dual-Pixel technology. Thern there will be a high-end M, G2 X, 7DII, and 70D on the market with a similar sensor and competing on size and other features.

"Not everyone needs a large sensor camera. 99% of users just post to the web. I'll take the 24mm FOV over big pixels."

That's actually true. What's also true is that they're using the camera in their phone to do it.

It's like selling a car that goes the same speed as a bike, then claiming people don't need more than that anyways. Whether that's true or not, why would anyone buy a car that isn't better than their cheaper, smaller bike?